Socket



H, H. EBY

Aug, 23, 1938.

SOCKET Filed June 7, 1955 ATTORNEY' Patented Aug. 23, 193s 2,127,556

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SOCKET Hugh H. Eby, Philadelphia, Pa., assignor to Hugh H. Eby, Inc., Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania.

Application June 7, 1935, Serial No. 25,369

3 Claims. (Cl. 173-328) This invention relates to sockets, and particusocket with a contact aperture and with a conlarly to sockets having molded bases, especially tact element arranged of itself to prevent undue adapted to receive the prongs of plug-in devices axial movement in the aperture and also arsuch as vacuum tubes or the like, as a mount ranged to secure frictional engagement on oppo- 5 for such devices. site sides of an associated prong contact; to pro- 5 In the prior art developments of plug-in devide a molded socket and a contact secured therevices and sockets, where the particular problemsr in without additional independent connecting or focused upon cheap cost of production oil the anchoring means; to provide a molded socket sockets, whereby low prices could be attainedlthe with contacts that are floating and self-aligning;

trend was toward thin laminated sheets ofti `uto provide a molded socket with contacts and 10 lating materials, such having insulating binders `means to impart a predetermined Superficial ViS- such as those of the phenolic resins and the like, ual effect in accordance with the number of con as the supporting base for the contacts of theY tactS available to a plug-in device, and many sockets. Usually these thin sheets required reother objects and advantages as will become more inforcement by supplemental sheets, and due to apparent as the description proceeds. 15

their thinness could only be secured in position In the accompanying drawingi by suitable anchoring devicespassing through Fig. 1 represents a Vertical SectiOn tllrOugh deyelets or the like, disposed in lateral extensions molded form of base or support accOlding to a 0f the plates 01- sheets The Sockets were therepreferred el'nbOdlment theleOf, With a fragment fore of appreciably greater size or area than was of the tube to be operatively associated therewith 20 required for the mere mounting 0f the plug-in shown in dotted lines in detached relation, and devices or tubes, and although of high utility in with a showing in section of two different sorts the connection and of very cheap cost of pro- 0f Contacts mounted in the base,

duction had frequently undesirable resilience and Fie. 2 represents a plan of the socket accordcertain other minor disadvantages which this inine t0 Fig- 1 DIiOl t0 mounting 0f the contacts 25 Vention is intended to Overcome, and with the insulating guard plate broken away, It is .among the objects of this invention; to Fig. 3 represents a vertical section through the provide a molded socket for tubes, which is cheap SOCket 0f Fig- 1 With the guard plate removed, and economien to'produce and is highly efcieni; Fig. 4 represents a transverse vertical section in use; to improve contact elements for socket ircue'h the Socket 0f Fie l, With the guard plate 30 receptacles; to provide a single integral element remOVed,

as the foundation of a socket device; to provide Fie- 5 represents a vertical section through a a socket device with means preventing undemodlfled fOIm 0f molded base, sii-ed `0r accidental Sporting of a, plurality of Fig. 6 represents a side elevation of a modiiied contacts through the placing of a connector in a form 0f Socket comprising a Single hole Inountinar 35 plane parallel to the base surface across the ends device, with the panel with Which it is associated of the contacts; to provide a single hole mount- Shown in SeCtOIl and bIOken away. f ing for socket receptacles; to provide a socket re- Fis. 7 represents a plan of the deviceof Fie. 6. ceptacle with a guard rail to protect the ends Fis. 8 represents a vertical section through the of the contact elements; to provide a single Single hele mounting device 0f Fig- 6, Without a 40 integral element having a molded-in portion arguard plate. as taken 0n line 3 3 0f Fig. '7, ranged to anchor the socket in an aperture in Fig. 9 represents a transversevertical section a panel or the like; to provide in a molded socket through the device of Figs. 6 and 7, as taken means to prevent undesired rotative movement on line 9-9 of Fig. 7, but with the guard plate of the contact elements; to provide a molded removed, 45 socket receptacle with a plurality of contacts and Fig. 10 represents an elevation of an attachan insulating or guard plate arranged to protect ing element to be molded into the base disclosed the ends of the contacts; to provide a molded in Fig. 6, base for sockets with a plurality of contact aper- Fig. 11 represents a perspective of a form `of tures and contacts in certain of the apertures, contact available in the contact apertures of all 50 with an insulating guard plate having a smaller of the forms of socket disclosed. number of apertures arranged to register with a It is to be observed that the sockets of this inse1ected number of the molded apertures in acvention are Capable of receiving and supporting .cordance with the required contacts in the parany type 0f tube, and that Special arrangements ticular use of the socket; to provide a molded have been made to enable the socket to receive 55 to permit a continuation downwardly of the axialV and support the more or less non-conventional tubes that have recently made their appearance, characterized by the provision of an axial extension for guiding the tube toward the socketywith a rib on the extension having predetermined angular relation to the respective contacts oil the tube. The special arrangement noted refers to overcoming that undesirable attribute that normally would attach to the socket for such tubes when the extension extends below the socket to engage parts below the surface thereof with possibly undesirable results, and more particularly the undesirable effect when Working on the set, of providing a series of rather large openings through the sockets through which undesired metallic parts might` be accidently thrust or dropped with dei'lnitely undesirable results.

Referring to Fig. 1, the tube with which the socket is preferably associated has a base I0, prolonged axial extension I I, usually slightly tapered and having the end I2, and upon which the somewhat shorter guide rib I3 is formed, while the contact prongs I4, of still shorter length extend from the base in a series concentric with the axis of the axial extension II. The number of prongs I4 has been reduced in the interests of simplification. The tube forms no part of the invention herein, and is therefore only indicated in dotted lines, as an aid in the understanding of the invention.

I'he molded base I5 of Figs. 1 and 2, is provided with the central slightly tapered axial aperture I6 having the longitudinal slot I1 to respectively receive the axial extension guide element Il and guide rib I3 of the tube. The molded base I has a series of apertures I8 extending perpendicularly through the base in a ring concentric with the axis of the guide aperture I6; and each in the preferred form has diametrically disposed longitudinal grooves 20-20 to receive the lateral edges of the contact to be described, which grooves preferably lie in pairs in planes substantially tangential to the axis of the contact apertures. They .could be disposed otherwise in accordance with the capacity requirements of the socket, but the disposition shown is preferred. Each contact aperture I8 merges at its upper end into a recess 2 I, formed in the base 22 o f the socket, preferably,

and the face 22 is surrounded by the fence or ridge4 23 disposed in a ring preferably concentric with thering of contact apertures IB. The base preferably has a substantially'cylindrical portion 24 axially prolonged from one surface of the ridge or iiange 23, in such a manner as to be received in an annular opening 25 in a panel 26, to expose merely the tube receiving face of the socket. 'Ihe base has ears 21 extending laterally of the main body and being provided with apertures or anchor holes 28, by which hollow rivets or, the like 30 can secure the socket in place in the panel 26.

It will be clear that the description of the base as just recited will iit both the socket of Fig. l. and its associated figures, as well as the socket of Fig. 5. The principal difference between these disclosures being that in Fig. 5 the tapering axial aperture I 6 and slot I1 terminate in the lower face of the plate or base, as at 3l, while in Figs. l, 3,74', 6, etc., the lower face of the socketrbase 32 has the downward proiection or housing 33 extending out of the plane of the base of such thickness as may be necessary for strength and tapering guiding aperture I6 and slot I1, until terminated by a transverse bottom 34. The integral base I5 and extension 33 form a guard amante housing for the aperture to receive the axial guide extensions of the associated tubes, which serve both to prevent movement of undesired objects through the socket by means of aperture I3, and also serve to prevent anything from touching the guide extension of the tube after it is in place in the socket. Obviously with an aperture in the bottom wall 34 of the extension, means are aiorded for fastening the base as a unit in place on a suitable support by means of a screw or the like passing through the aperture in the bottom of the cup or housing described. Such aperture is indicated at 35.

'Ihere are many materials which are available for the socket base or foundation, as the principal requirements aside from strength for the purpose, center about its insulating qualities, and the maintenance of such qualities. The molding material is preferably one that can be cheaply and quickly obtained and easily worked, which is impervious to distortion or shrinkage under conditions of varying humidity or normal operating temperatures. All of these preferable characteristics are found in some of the newer phenolic condensation products and their use is preferred.

Given the base I5 as just described, it will be clear that there are many sorts of contacts that may be used for operative engagement by the prongs of the tube.

Preferably a contact 35 such as is shown in Fig. 1l, is used, as it is inexpensive to make, utilizes a minimum of material, has such resilience as to enable it to frictionally engage opposite sides of a prong contact, can be anchored against rotation in an easy manner, and conduces toward its easy installation in the molded bases of this invention. The contact as shown. is preferably formed from a single sheet of metal which in its initial form is roughly that of an inverted L. 'I'he horizontal leg or foot of the sheet is preformed to provide a pair of spaced vertical groove-ribs 31,l the upper ends of which extend above the adjacent material in lips 38, and which are brought face to face when the leg is bent about a line evenly dividing the leg, as at 40, to provide the contact portion composed of the oppositely curving ribs forming the quasi-cylinder 4I merging into the laterally extending flattened wings 42 and 43, one of which 43 is formed of the opposite edge portions of the leg, while the wing 42 is formed of the contiguous edge portions merging into each other on the line 40. The vertical leg of the L of sheet metal forming the contact, and which after the upper portion has been bent to contacting relation as just described becomes in elevation more like the letter I, has the laterally off-set abutting portion 44 having the tapering continuation 45 of the rib 31 serving as a sort of fillet to strengthen the olli-set, in line with the rib 31, has the depending terminal soldering connection 46 as is usual on most contacts.

It will be observed in Fig. 1, that the contact 36, just described can be upwardly inserted from the bottom of the base into its appropriate contact hole I8, with the folded wing 42 and the separable wing 43 sliding in Vtheir respective grooves 2li- 20, until the off-set portion 44, or

the bottom of the recess to prevent undesired inward movement of the contact in the hole. This mode of mounting the contacts will obviously be so simple and easy as to ycommend itself to those skilled ln the art. Clearly the contacts may be mounted and swaged or flanged in gangs with expedition and economy of labor.

In the contact at the left hand of Fig. 1, a supplemental tongue 41 is struck from the contact to engage the lower face 32 of the base to relieve the terminal lug 46 of its off-set and of any strain in connection with keeping the contact in position.

- It will be obvious that there need only be a single wing on'the contact, as 42, and that there need only be a .single radial groove in the apertures I8, although the form disclosed and described is preferred.

Referring now to the single hole mounting shown in Figs. 6, 7, 8 and 9, there is preferably no essential difference in any of the guiding, guarding or housing portions of the contacts from that disclosed in the earlier described form, and the same reference characters will be applied to those parts.-

'I'he base 50 preferably has a lower annular portion 5|, of smaller diameter than the front flanged enlargement 52 having the peripheral portion surrounding the recessed front opening 53, having the contact apertures as already explained in connection with the other figures, and which peripheral portion serves the same guarding function as the fence or ridge 23 of the earlier described forms as will be explained. The fence or flange however, instead of being circular may be provided with one or more flattened sides 49, and a locating stud or recess 59. The molded base 50 is preferably characterized by the anchored attachment of one or more bendable anchoring elements or devices 54, having embedded wings 55, by which the anchors are secured in the base during its molding. These anchors are preferably disposed on opposite sides of the bases with their outer faces in, or not extending laterally beyond the periphery of the base, with exposed terminals 56 preferably extending below the lower surface of the base, in position to be engaged manually or by a suitable tool to be bent outwardly to engage the lower surface of a panel or board 51. It will be clear that insertion of a base in the suitable aperture 58 of the panel, with vthe small stud 60 on the outer surface of the base in a cooperating recess in the panel communicating with the aperture 58 therein, anchors the base against rotation, and the frictional engagement of the bent up wings 54 prevents axial movement, and thereby a quick, easy and cheap mounting is secured.

In the several forms of the device already disclosed it will be understood that it is preferred to provide the annular or other ridge or fence surrounding the main face plate or tube engaging portion of the socket receptacle, such as is shown, and in many cases this will be the only guard which will be furnished. It will be clear that even with the various contact elements having portions lying in the face enclosed by the guard ridges, it will be practically impossible to accidentally cause a short-circuiting of a plurality of contacts by any overlying of a connector across several contacts, as by disposing it in a plane parallel to the face of the base, as it would be held in spaced relation thereto by the annular guard rail. With the contact ends received in the recesses surrounding the ends of the contact apertures it would be even more diillcult to accidently or even predeterminedly to short-circuit several of the contacts. It is contemplated however, in extreme cases where desired, that an additional safeguard be provided which would serve several purposes as will now be discussed.

A thin preferably resilient sheet of insulating material 6I is provided of an outer contour such as to t the inner contour of the guard rails of the devices of Fig. l, or that of Fig. '7, and of such area as to be capable of being snapped into frictional engagement with the inner surface of the guard rail. Each guard plate or sheet is arranged to overlie the contact face of the socket in substantial parallelism therewith and to remain in place against accidental dislodgement. Obviously if desired any additional means may be utilized to hold the plates in guarding position, although generally frictional engagement will suffice.

It is a feature of the invention that the plates which are merely insulating guards and serve no contact holding function, will have proper axial holes at 62 to register with the guiding surface I6, and will have only such number of prong contact apertures as Will actually be used in the particular kind of receptacle desired. In this connection it may be pointed out that although a maximum number of contacts is provided for in laying out the sub-division of the annular series of contacts, only in the most complex of tubes will there be all of the Contact prongs provided. Obviously if a smaller number of prongs than the maximum is used in a given tube, it would possibly involve some waste to provide the maximum number of contacts in the sockets, depending upon the manufacturing processes. Clearly also there would be no differentiation in thev superficial aspect of any given socket receptacle that had less than the maximum number of contacts, except by close attention, so that it is difficult for operatives to install the proper sockets in their appropriate places in the set. It is contemplated therefore that the plates 6I'will have only such contact apertures 63 as either register with contact apertures i8 containing live contacts, or with such apertures as are necessary to provide the number of contacts called for by the installation. In other words it is contemplated that the sheets 6| may have numerous blind holes, or rather that the sheet will be solid over certain contact holes, and will only have the proper number for the appropriate tube. 'I'hus the socket receptacle may have eight or more contact apertures. It may be designed for use with a tube of but six contacts. In this case the plate 6l may have but six holes.

Again,l as an aidin quick and easy differentiation between sockets, it is contemplated that the signal effect achieved by the reduced number of apertures in the cover plate over' the number in the socket itself, may be marked or amplified by color signals or the like whereby a plate of a given number of apertures, and thus designed for a given tube use, may be partially or wholly colored in a pattern or visual effect instantly distinguishable from the visual effect of another plate arranged for use with a different number of prong contacts on a tube. The many combinations of these modes of differentiating will appeal to those skilled in the art.

It will be observed that the contacts are arranged for and are capable of axial and lateral movement, flexing or distortion to accord with variations in the dispositions of the prongs on the tubes. 'I'he many advantages of the invention,

and the manifest modifications to which it may be subject will appeal to those skilled in the art, and all such are to be construed as within the scope of this invention unless the claims herein are otherwise specifically limited.

I claim:

1. A female contact ior molded socket receptacles formed from a unitary metallic strip of generally L shape comprised of a foot and a leg with two integral tabs extending from the lower edge of the foot in spaced relation to each other and to the side edges of the foot and leg respectively, the foot and leg each having a rib formed in alignment with a respective tab, the foot portion bent upon itself on a line substantially midway between the tabs to bring the rib portions into confronting juxtaposition to form a substantially cylindrical member having a wing formed of v confronting planar portions of the foot joined by a hinge extending the height of the foot and a second wing diametrical of the rst comprised of the planar portion of the outer edge of the leg and the outer planar edge portion of the foot, the

- tabs extending beyond the ends of the wings forming bendable lips to secure the contact in a desired mounting support against axial movement in one direction and to guide a prong entering the contact, said lips beingr of a width not greater than a rib.

2. A female contact for molded socket receptacles formed from a unitary metallic strip of generally L shape comprised of a foot and a leg, with two integral tabs extending from the lower edge of the foot in spaced relation to each other and to the side edges ci the foot and leg respectively, the foot and leg each having a rib formed in alignment with a respective tab, the foot portion bent upon itself on aline substantially mid- Way between the tabs to bring the rib portions into confronting juxtaposition to form a substantially cylindrical member having a wing formed .of confronting planar portions of the foot joined by a hinge extending the height of the foot and a second wing diametrical of the rst comprised of the planar portion oi' the outer edge of the leg and the outer planar edge portion of the foot, the tabs extending beyond the ends of the wings forming bendable lips to secure the contact in a desired mounting support against axial movement in one direction and to guide a prong entering the contact, said lips being of a width not greater than a rib, and said leg bent to form a stop and comprising a soldering terminal.

3. A socket receptacle comprising in combination a molded base having diametrically grooved contact apertures and countersunk recesses at the ends of the apertures, a contact disposed in a contact aperture and formed from a unitary metallic strip of generally L shape comprised of a i'oot and a leg with two integral tabs extending from the lower edge of the foot in spaced relation to each other and to the side edges of the foot and leg respectively, the foot and legv each having a rib formed in augment with a respective tab, the foot portion bent upon itself on a line substantially mid-way between the tabs to bring the rib portions into confronting juxtaposition to form a substantially cylindrical member having a wing formed ofv confronting planar portions of the foot joined by a hinge extending the height of the foot and a second wing diametricai of the first comprised of the planar portion of the outer edge of the 'ieg and the outer planar edge portion of the foot, the tabs extending bepond the ends of the wings forming bendable lips engaging in the countersink to secure the contact in the socket against axial movement in one direction and to guide a prong entering the contact, said lips being of a width not greater than a rib, said wings being disposed in said diametrically extending grooves, said leg extending beyond the molded base forming a soldering terminal and having a portion off-set to engage the base as a stop to limit axial movement of the contact in the other direction from that secured by the tabs.

HUGH H. EBY. 

